https://www.theatlantic.com/author/william-langewieschehttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/business/media/william-langewiesche-dead.html?searchResultPosition=1Sad to hear that William Langewiesche, renowned journalist, has died at 70, reportedly from prostate cancer. I highly recommend his articles on aviation disasters. He was a pilot and knew the science of flying, and how accidents happen, better than anyone I have ever read. I recommend looking at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, or The New Yorker for links to his many articles. If you’re like me, you’ll worry about your plane’s pitot tube(s) the next time you fly. Langewiesche had the courage to point out that the Airbus that Sullenberg landed on the Hudson River could probably have landed itself, a narrative hardly designed to please, but which was grounded in knowledge of airplane design and performance.
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I’d never heard that comment before about the landing on the Hudson. Will definitely read some of
Langewiesche’s articles. But I was shocked to hear 20+ years ago from someone “in the know” that 747s being used on flights to Asia did sometimes land themselves.
Meanwhile, Southwest has taken one more step to mitigate pilot error with new warning devices in the cockpit.
”These features give pilots real-time visual and aural alerts when they are flying too fast, too high, or about to use an incorrect runway or taxiway.” Story
I recall they considered trying to glide to JFK or another nearby airport. But Sully thought it too risky. Maybe the Airbus could have landed in the river OK. I’d rather let Sully do it. That was 2009. Better technology in the cockpit today I’d think.
We mourn the loss of a great aviation writer / enthusiast nonetheless.